Coalition asks Malawi govt to mobilise resources for education sector
Civil Society Education Coalition executive director, Benedicto Kondowe has asked government to knock on the doors of the corporate world to seek help for the country’s education sector which has been badly hit by financial drought.
Kondowe made the call during interview monitored on Dziko FM on the sideline of Global action week for Education.
He commended government for allocating funds to the education budget within the recommended percentages but argued despite government complying to it, the funds have not translated into significant realization of education rights in Malawi because the resource envelop is inadequate.
Kondowe therefore urged the government to engage the corporate world to join hands and support the education sector for quality public education with better infrastructure, teaching and learning materials and adequate number of trained teachers which requires a major step up on financing.
“Malawi government go consider making it mandatory for corporate world to allocate 40% of the corporate social responsibility funds to the education sector,” said Kondowe.
On her part ActionAid Malawi, Executive Director, Martha Khonje appealed to the private sector to pay their fair share of taxes for the development of Malawi.
She said corporate world can invest in their future employers by adopting schools thereby supporting them with infrastructure development, provision of teaching and learning materials, and sponsorship of girls’ education, role and many others.
Khonje also called upon religious and local leaders to play a role in improving the quality of education in Malawi.
“We therefore call upon them to promote access to education by taking an active role in sensitizing communities and parents or guardians. Parents and guardians must ensure that a school going age children should be in school and supported,” Khonje said.
This year’s Global Action Week for Education was commemorated under the theme “Fund the Future: Education Rights Now.”
